Frequently Asked Questions

QUESTION: Since I live in California, where can I apply for a biometric passport in the United States?

ANSWER: Applications for a biometric passport may be submitted at any of the three diplomatic-consular missions of the Republic of Serbia in the United States—the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in Washington, D.C., and the Consulates General in New York and Chicago—by prior appointment.

QUESTION: Can I renew my passport by mail without appearing in person?

ANSWER: No. Passport applications must be submitted in person, by prior appointment, at the nearest diplomatic-consular mission of the Republic of Serbia in the United States. Applicants who are bedridden or medically unable to appear in person may be eligible to submit an application through an offline acquisition procedure. Supporting medical documentation and a justified request are required. For additional information, please contact the Embassy by email at consular.washington@mfa.rs.

QUESTION: My passport has expired, and I need to travel urgently to the Republic of Serbia. What should I do?

ANSWER: You may apply for an Emergency Travel Document (Travel Certificate) either in person or by mail. This document is valid for 60 days from the date of issuance and is intended solely for travel to the Republic of Serbia. An Emergency Travel Document may not be used for travel within the United States or to other countries. However, transit through another country is permitted, provided that the final destination is Belgrade. The processing time for an Emergency Travel Document is generally 1 to 3 business days.

QUESTION: How long does it take to receive a passport?

ANSWER: In accordance with the Law on Travel Documents of the Republic of Serbia, passport applications submitted through a diplomatic-consular mission of the Republic of Serbia are processed by the competent Police Directorate or Police Station of the Ministry of the Interior responsible for the applicant's registered place of residence in Serbia. For applicants who do not have a registered residence in the Republic of Serbia, passports are issued by the Belgrade Police Directorate of the Ministry of the Interior. The statutory processing period for issuing a passport is 60 days. In practice, however, passports are often issued sooner, with an average processing time of approximately 30–35 days.

QUESTION: May I submit applications concerning civil status matters (marriage registration, birth registration, etc.) at any diplomatic-consular mission?

ANSWER: No. Applications concerning civil status matters must be submitted to the diplomatic-consular mission of the Republic of Serbia in the United States that has consular jurisdiction over your state of residence.

Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in Washington, D.C. – Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.

Consulate General of the Republic of Serbia in Chicago – Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

Consulate General of the Republic of Serbia in New York – Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, Vermont, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.